The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-12-24

the laborer or the great productive
interests OF the country.
In the democratic platform adopt
ed at Chicago, July 10, 1884, we find
the following:
The democracy pledges itself
y = to reduce taxatian to the
lowest limit consistent with due re-
gard to the preservation of the faith
of the nation to it's creditors and
pensioners. Knowing full well, how
ever, that legislation affecting the
operations of the people should be
cautious and conservative in method,
it is not proposed to injure
any domestic industries, but rather
to promote their healthy growth.
1t is well to have these utterances
of the two great political parties
in mind at this juncture. So far as
can be discovered they are alike in
purpose, both admitting the exist
ence Of an increasing evil and both
demanding it's removal by such
measures as may seem to be wisest
and best.
Here are two facts upon which the
whole country was agreed in 1884.
First, that we have dangerous sur
plus which is piling itselfup at such
a tremendous rate that at the end of
the next fiscal year we shall have
one hundred and forty millions of
idle"money, and, second, that this
surplus is positive peril, because
it clogs the government, interferes
with business enterprise and is of
no use to any one.
Now, then, suppose we take the
next step. Something must be done
to reduce the revenue. No matter
what-we will get to that by and
by-but something. 1t is not a
question Of party politics, because
both parties are in accord, but a
question of patriotic duty. Some
thing must be done, and done quick
ly, to keep the peoples money in the
peoples pockets, where it belongs,
and to keep it out of the Treasury
vaults, where it does not belong.
The people need it to conduct their
business with, and therefore to ex-
tract it from the currency of the
country and hoard it up is not only
bad political economy, but it is bad
in every way and good in no way.
Here, too, we are all agreed. There
is no chance for difference of opin-
ion. We stand together-demo-
Gratis, republicans, prohibitionists,
mugwumps and the knights of La
bor-with the exception of a few un-
redeemed partisans. All right.
But where shall we begin this nee
essary work of reductionl We all
cry out that a beginning must be
made somewhere-but where? Mr..
Cleveland makes a suggestion, as it
is his obvious duty to do, and says,
Suppose we admit raw materials in
to this country free? and instantly
Mr.. Blaine screams through the ca
BILE something about protection and
free trade. He has a kind of rhetor-
ical CONFUSION, and under the i'm
preston that commissions are conta-
gious he transmits a CARLOAD OF
them by submarine wire for the pur-
pose Of inoculating his party and Sc
curing his own nomination. 1t is
palpably political trick, quite
worthy of demagogue, but entirely
beneath the notice of statesman.
He never seemed so little or so mean
and contemplate as when he tried
to turn a great national necessity
involving serious national dangers
to his personal account as the prob
able nominee of party.
Protection? Why, in Heavens
name, is there any one on this cont
nent who doesn't want to protect
our business interests? Is there
any one who would lay an extra
straw on the shoulders of the wage
earners, or in any way interfere with
the commercial prosperity which
after long ebb, has just turned to-
ward the flood? If there is, we have
not seen him. Protection and free
trade, indeed These have no more
to do with the question we are now
handling than has the complexion
of the man in the moon. When that
subject is up for discussion we shall
discuss it, but at the present mo
ment it is not before the house.
We have-this sixty millions o.
free peoples-these facts to think
ahout and the combustion we arrive
at settles the matter for the present
First-Tbe government is rich
and it ought to be poor. 1t has nj
business with millions which it does
not need.
Second-The government is grow
ing richer every day, and even I
blind man can see that crisis is a
hand which ought to be faced.
Ihird-The revenue of the coun
try must be reduced or our politica
equilibrium will be imperilled.
So the democratic party insists
that this peremptory duty shall b,
attended to at once, and if Mr.
Blaine and his followers dodge tn
issue, that is their business.
Then when the revenue has beef
reduced our commercial prosperit,
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